A woman has been arrested after carrying out a superstitious ritual before boarding a flight in South China.

The ritual, which is believed to ensure a safe flight, involves throwing coins at an engine for 'good luck,' when really, the thoughts of anyone throwing anything at a plane's engine before take-off is completely terrifying.

According to the Daily Mail, the passenger in question threw a total of six coins at the engine of the China Southern Airlines flight and it led to the flight being delayed for 78 minutes.

The 61-year-old, who was a first time flyer, was reportedly detained for 7 days following the incident.

The superstitious ritual sees passengers throwing coins at the plane's engine to ensure a safe journey.

The publication reports that a professor at Civil Aviation University of China previously carried out research on the ritual.

He explains the dangers associated, stating "The engine could tremble, lose speed and even stop in mid-air if a coin were sucked into its core. That would put all the passengers on board at great risk."